[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON Jun-28-06 AT 11:41AM (EST)[/font][p]Mike-

You make the most sense of anyone on this board. I used to fish a ton of tournaments and quite frankly, there is an element of the tournament fishing community that gives tounament fishing in general a black eye. Unfortunately, this element seems to be the most vocal. I fish many, many days a year and I spend a great deal of money doing so. The money I have to 'pay' to fish in the form of taxes, gate fees, etc. is inferior to the total dollars I spend in general. Bottom line, my desire to fish is greater than the cost required to do it. If I ever get to the point where I have to bash everyone that has their hand out, I'll just quit fishing and pick up another hobby.

Some tournament fishing anglers think the sun rises and sets on their rear end and that they are the only ones that foot the bill or 'get it'. It is hard for me to imagine how half of these folks can even fish while looking through their eyebrows when they are on the water. Sounds like an enjoyable time , huh?

The question that has to be answered is, 'What is it worth to you to be able to fish or tournament fish'. If the dollar figure, stress of it all, is less than what it actually costs....then quit it. Otherwise, enjoy yourself and do your talking in the voting booth....or with your state representative.

I am sure this will draw some dandy responses, but hey, I was doing this thing when most wannabes today were popping zits and chasing skinny teenage girls....so let er rip.